Phoebe Bridgers releases single "Motion Sickness", Announces Debut LP

Photo by Frank Ockenfels, image from High Road Touring: https://www.highroadtouring.com/artists/phoebe-bridgers/

Ever since Los Angeles singer/songwriter Phoebe Bridgers released the aching, tender EP Killer in 2015 through Ryan Adams' PAX AM label, she's topped many lists of potential up-and-comers. Killer, a three song EP of minimalistic, warm, and tumultuous folk songs, falls into a familiar genre, but far exceeds her counterparts in emotional resonance and songcraft. However, she's solidified her potential with "Motion Sickness", the second single from her forthcoming debut LP Stranger in the Alps, set to release on September 22 through Dead Oceans records.

"Motion Sickness" is a grungy and emotionally vulnerable mid-tempo rock song that's elevated to poignancy by Bridgers delicate, buoyant vocals and biting, poetic lyricism that doesn't hesitate to put her heart on full display. "I have emotional motion sickness/somebody roll the windows down/there are no words in the English language/I could scream to drown you out," she sings on the chorus, her voice reminiscent of Elliot Smith; softly gliding over the instrumental with delicate conviction, but never losing touch.

Stranger in the Alps comes out on September 22 through Dead Oceans.

"Motion Sickness" follows "Smoke Signals", the first single from Stranger in the Alps. Where "Smoke Signals" wallowed in shadowy ambience and bleak, intensely personal anecdotes strong enough to make you feel like you lived those moments right beside her, "Motion Sickness" resides in vaguer territory, relying on sharp imagery and detailing the afterglow of a past relationship, only to try to move on and "surrender to the sound".

Stranger in the Alps comes out September 22. Until then, you can stream "Motion Sickness" below. Bridgers is currently on tour with Conor Oberst-- you can see the dates on her website.